Nozzle for mixing liquids



' Feb. 27, 1951 H w MCCABE 2,543,294

NOZZLE FOR MIXING LIQUIDS Filed June 23, 1948 Eng. 1.

Ez' g.. 7 A2 /0 a /4 6 Patented Feb. 27, 1951 NOZZLE FOR IVHXING LIQUIDS Harry W. McCabe, Eastondale, Mass., assignor to James E. Murley, Boston, Mass.

Application June 23, 1948, Serial No. 34,611

4 Claims.

This invention relates to nozzles, and is particularly concerned with a nozzle adapted to be attached to an ordinary garden hose, having means associated therewith for drawing into the stream of water a limited quantity of concentrated solution whereby the water and solution may be mixed automatically to be sprayed on on the desired area.

In recent years liquid fertilizers for grasses and plants have been developed. Ordinarily the fertilizer will be sold in such concentration that it cannot be applied directly to the vegetation. It therefore is necessary to dilute the liquid fertilizer to the proper degree before applying it. The conventional practice heretofore has been merely to dilute the concentrate in a large container and then, using a hand watering can, sprinkle it where desired. Another practice has been to dilute the concentrate in a large container and then place therein a tube leading to a suction device incorporated in the garden hose. When the water is turned on, the movement of water through the hose sucks up the diluted fertilizer, which then mixes with the water and is sprayed where wanted. The objection to this arrangement, however, is that whenever the hose is turned on the fertilizer will be sucked into the water stream. This is undesirable because the best practice indicates that it is preferable to water the vegetation before applying the fertilizer. Obviously, this cannot be done by the arrangement just described without first disconnecting the siphoning hose.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates a nozzle construction adapted to be connected to the end of a hose, whereby the stream emitted from the nozzle may be changed at will from a stream that is pure water to a stream that is water mixed with a suitablequantity of the chemical fertilizer. In addition, the invention provides means whereby the fertilizer in its concentrated form may be mixed directly with the flowing stream, thereby eliminating the necessity of a preliminary dilution of the concentrate.

A further element of the invention is the detail of construction making it possible for the nozzle to be readily connected to or disconnected from a bottle containing the liquid fertilizer.

The construction contemplates utilizing as part,

of the combination a cap of the same size and. construction as the cap that normally closes the bottle when not in use.

The invention is in such form that it may be actuated as above described by anyone without:

special instruction or skill. The nature of the invention will be more clearly understood as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a plan view of the nozzle shown attached to the hose and container.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, except for the hose, which is shown in side elevation.

The invention comprises a nozzle 2 having an outwardly tapered bore 4 extending the full length thereof and forming a nozzle passage. The rear end of the nozzle is connected with an enlarged body portion 6 internally threaded at I for connection with a garden hose in the usual manner. The vertical wall 8 at the rear end of the nozzle acts as a seat against which is positioned a washer l0 having a centrally located hole which is in axial alignment with the axis of the nozzle. The hole l2, as can be seen in the drawing, is smaller than the rear end of the nozzle passage for purposes which will become more apparent hereinafter.

Through the body portion of the nozzle immediately forward of wall 8 is a vertically disposed hole 14 of substantial diameter. This hole leads from the exterior atmosphere to the rear of the nozzle passage, and under normal I circumstances permits unimpeded flow of atmospheric air into the nozzle.

A corresponding hole I6 aligned for convenience with hole l4 extends downwardly from the bottom of the rear portion of the nozzle through the lower body portion. The interior of this hole I6 is threaded as at 18 to receive a jet member 253 which is correspondingly threaded at its upper end. The upper portion of the jet has a relatively large axial bore 22 leading to a small bore 24 which extends the remainder of the length of the jet member. The size of bore 24 as compared with hole I4 is small, so that when both are open it will be easier for air to flow to the nozzle passage through hole M.

A typical screw threaded bottle cap 26 has a centrally located hole through the top thereof area 46 remains at oronly slightlvbelow atmospheric.

of the fertilizer.

the cap into the bottle when the cap is screwed thereon.

With the parts thus assembled, the lower end of jet 2!] will extend a short distance below the bottom rim of cap 26 where it may be conveniently reached to have positioned thereon a rubber tube 40. This tube will be long enough to reach to a point where its lower end 42 is close to the botttim of thejar 38 to'which the cap 26 will be screwed when the nozzle "is in use.

When the hose is turned on, water will flow through orifice l2 at high velocity forming initially a small diameter stream as at i4which"will leave an annular air space 46 thereabout at the rear end of the nozzle passage. The stream l i immediately begins to expand and 'by' the time it has reached the forward end of-the' nozzle passage it will have expanded sufficiently to develop the characteristics of a waterpiston, so that the air within the rear of the nozzle pasfrom. As theair-in the-annular areafidis'being continuously removed by the water stream, it is fore as long as hole M is open-the pressure in Up to this time the liquid being discharged from the'nozzle is only water. When the oper'ator desires to have the liquid fe'rtilizer- 'rriixed fwit'h the Wateryall that is; necessary is'toplace' fthe ithumb or f nger over hole l4 'This-prevents any further entrance of-atm'ospher'ic air to'the annular space 46j and, as a result, negative pressure begins to developfWith the-atmosphere pressing on the surface ddof-thefiuid in' jar o8" K and with a negativejpressure present in the bore 24'of jet member 29, it is obvious'th'at the-liquid level in tube 26 will" commence to rise, and in due" coiirse,'when"the"negative "pressure in area f 16 becomessufiicient, the concentrate will arrive "in the nozzle throughpa'ssage iIB, where it'will be picked up'by the water to'be discharged as a mixed solution. I

'The size of bore 24 and the negative'pressure developed in area 46 c'ont'rol'the rate ofdischarge These elements are so ad- 'justed that the concentration'of fertilizer inthe discharged liquid will be correct for the purpose indicated. v V 7 If the operator desires to'discontinue sprayingthe fertilizer, he merely removes his 'thuinb or finger from hole l4, allowing atmospheric air to enter the annular area 46. Thiselim'inates the negative pressure in bore 24, sothat no' more liquid is sucked into the'water streamfrom jar 38.

Since water pressure varies -in di'fierent-'-localities, it is obvious that the velocity'ofstieam 44 may vary. Accordingly, hole] hasfb'een designed to admit atmospheric-air-at a rate sumcient'to keep the-pressure in space ddsuffi'cieritly close to atmospheric pressure" to prevent any withd1'awal" 'of thefertilizer, regardless "of the watenpressure, so longashole ii -is open.

Where the water pressure is high, it"willcccasionallybe found that the suction crea'ted in bo're upon-closing ofh'ole 'ld will-"base great as" to' 'draw the liquid fertilizer into the nozzle ina continuousstrea'm, thus'causing ovcr=conpedient to reduce the negative pressure in bore 24. This may be done by partial instead of complete blocking of hole M.

For general use the following dimensions have been found satisfactory: hole I4 is .140 inch in diameter, bore 24 is .035 inch in diameter, and aperture 12 is .154 inch in diameter.

While a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby but only by the appended claims.

I claim: *lf'A nozzle for use in the automatic mixing of a liquid with water normally flowing through saidhozzlejsaid"nozzle having a flaring nozzle passage, an aperture leading to an axially aligned with saidnozzle passage and smaller than the nozzle passage whereby a stream of water en- "tering said passage will not fill said passage ad- 0 jacent said aperturefa port of substantial size leading through the"wall'of said nozzle to the rear end or said-nozzle passage 'whereby'atmospher'ic air may flow freely'into said nozzle pasl sage to 'prevent-the development of a negative p1'essure' therein, a second port leading to said rear end of -said nozzle 'passage and ofmuch smaller c'apacity than said atmospheric air port, means for connecting said nozzle to a liquid container, and tubular means capable of leading of li quid -that -m'aybe' iri said container.

-2.-=A-no'zzle for attachmentto a'gardenhose comprising a flaring'hozzle passage; an enlarged "body portion attherear end of said'passage, a large internally threaded 'bore insaid body per-- ti'on --'a-x-iallyalignedand connected with 'said passage,- said large bore-having an end wall,a disc positioned against-saidwall, a centrally located 'aperture in s'aid disc axially aligned with said passage; said aperture "smaller than the smallest "part of said passage, -a 'relativelylarge hole "through saidbodyleading to said passage near said disc; a "relatively small hole leading to said passage"near "said"disc, -said small hole being "formedfin' a j'et member extending from said body, saidlarge 'holebeingofsuch size as to permit"'the""flowof atmospheric air-into said nozzle passage in such quantity that-when watens-"sowing through said nozzle passage in maximum volume, the "negative pressure defv'elo'p'ed'in said passage will'be insuflicient tolift liquidthr'ough said small hole 'in said 'jet m"embe into said passage, and a's'crew threaded cap gearned by saidjet member adaptedtoeng'age a correspondingly threaded portable container.

3. The combinatibn 'ofa nozzle and ap'ortable liquid container, means" 'for'cohnecting said nozzle'to a hose, means forproducing' a" negative pressure area-within'said'fnozzle upon normal flow of water therethrough, a first opeiiing'connecting said negative pressure area with' the atmosphere, said first opening being of such size -that as long as it remains open the pressure in said negative pressure area will be only slightly "below atmospheric and of negligible lifting power, a second'smaller opening leading from said negative-pressure area and terminating beneath the surface of-the liquidin said container whereby --up0n closing of said first opening while water is fiowing through said nozzle a greater nega- -tive'pi'essure will be developed'within said nozzle and said smaller opening-which will be su'fii- -cient to =draw-liquid from--saidcontainerinto said nozzle to mix=with-the said flowing water.

4. A nozzle for attachment to a garden hose, said nozzle comprising a nozzle passage, means for connecting said nozzle to a hose, a separate member positioned between the rear end of said nozzle passage and said hose, said member having an aperture therethrough permitting a stream of water of less diameter than said nozzle passage to flow into said nozzle passage, thereby providing an annular air space at the rear of said nozzle passage, two ports leading to said air space, one port of large diameter to permit the maintenance of pressure only slightly below atmospheric in said air space so long as said one port is open and the other port of much less diameter so that upon the closing or said one port the negative pressure in said air space will increase, said second port formed by a tubular jet member exteriorly threaded and screwed into a corresponding interiorly threaded hole in the body of said nozzle, a threaded cap having a hole through its top surface, said jet member extending through said hole and having its lower end extending below the bottom rim of said cap, and a nut screwed on said jet member and positioned Within the confines of the under side of said cap for maintaining said cap in tight fixed relation with said nozzle.

HARRY W. MCCABE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

